Georgetown homeless village work progresses
After several delays, the Springboard Collaborative Pallet Village in Georgetown is scheduled to open by the end of January. Construction and supply-chain issues have forced the date to be pushed back from its original opening planned for Thanksgiving week.
Springboard Executive Director Judson Malone said first phase of the site work is nearly complete; electrical wiring to the main electrical panels will be finished by the end of the week and a transformer will be in place this weekend.
“Next week we will begin getting the cabins ready for occupancy and the interior wiring for the welcome center will be done. We hope to be ready for occupancy by the end of this month,” Malone said.
In a partnership between Town of Georgetown officials and nonprofits Springboard Collaborative and First State Community Action Agency, construction began on the Pallet village off North Railroad Avenue Oct. 17, when trucks from the Pallet Co. in Washington state rolled onto the vacant lot. It's the first Pallet shelter village in Delaware.
The 40 cabin-like, 64-square-foot units were fabricated by a team of volunteers from several county companies on First State property.
The village, with a waiting list of 60 even before it opens, is just a few hundred yards away from a homeless tent village in the woods.
About the village
Each unit will contain one or two beds with bedding, heat and air conditioning, and storage space.
Included in the plan is a community building for meals, services, meetings and recreation. Since the units do not contain plumbing, two bathroom/shower units are part of the village.
Malone said meals will be provided by the First State culinary arts program.
All residents will be able to avail themselves of a multitude of services from various organizations.
A staff of case workers, security personnel and operations personnel has been hired.
The property will be fence-enclosed with a main entrance, which will be monitored by staff during the day and by professional security overnight, and include an emergency entrance for fire trucks and EMS vehicles.
Transportation is planned to help participants access off-site programs and services, and seek employment. A DART bus hub is within walking distance on Railroad Avenue.
Springboard is a nonprofit shelter and housing developer for people experiencing homelessness and those who are housing insecure. Springboard will provide administration and fundraising for the village.
For more information, go to the-springboard.org.
